Trip to the GI

So we went to see the Phoenix GI on Tuesday at 3:30. Talk about a "makes you want to pull your hair out" appointment. We have seen this doctor probably a dozen times since we have been here. At probably our 8th appointment she introduced herself to Casey and said "Hi, I'm Dr.XYZ, I don't think we have met yet." Casey has been at EVERY appointment. So this kinda weirded us out. I know they are busy, but seriously, make a note in the chart. All 12+ appointments we sit and have to go through Dylan's entire medical history. Why every time? Don't you take notes? Can't you remember the gastroschisis baby that you get calls on every week? Apparently not.

So, the first thing she says to us is "So, why are you here?" P.S to all those doctors out there, not a good thing to say to a parent. READ YOUR CHART!!!! When you make an appointment you get asked 50 times why you are making the appointment. You have had phone calls from another doctor. Can't you take 30 seconds to read something before you walk in our room. Saying "So, why are you here?" gives us very little faith in you. It makes us seem like we are just a number. Casey and I just looked at her dumbfounded. We were told last Thursday that she was on board with admitting Dylan into the hospital. And then she had the gaul to ask us why we were there. AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!She told us that our pediatrician told her we were having a hard time getting ahold of her. No, she just takes 2 weeks to call the Pediatrician back. And the last time we were at GI (1.5 months ago) she told us she was looking into a slew of tests to run on Dylan and that she would get back to us as soon as she knew anything. This was 1.5 months and we hadn't heard a darn thing.

So, in usual fashion with out GI appointments we go though every poop Dylan has had in 8 months. What she eats. Yada Yada Yada. And I am not kidding you when I say this. She must have asked us 18 times if Dylan is throwing up or refluxing. And all 18 times the answer was the same. "NO!" Dylan was a big refluxer in the past. So, I know when she is and isn't. And she hasn't been, which I thought was odd too. But, again, we say No all 18 times. Why must she ask 18 times? Does she think after 15 I will change my mind? I am beginning to think that Reflux is the GI version of ADD or Autism. You know that FAD diagnosis. It is what all the cool docs are diagnosing kids with. Its the diagnosis of the week. I feel like that is what Reflux is. They just don't like the answer that Dylan isn't throwing up!

I handed her the email I received from UCSF with the lists of tests they were suggesting. She responded with she thought they were a little knee-jerk. KNEE-JERK? You don't think wanting to put a child in the hospital before running ANY tests was knee-jerk, but wanting to do an ultrasound is knee-jerk? You have got to be kidding me.

Then I told the doctor that I wasn't so concerned with the poor weight gain. Yes, she isn't gaining weight, but she isn't loosing any. That seems like a positive in my book. My concern is the pain that Dylan is in. Why is she is in "can't breathe it hurts so bad" pain? Ya wanna know what she said to this? "Well, What do you want me to do? Admit her into the hospital? I can do that!" This is when I start to crack my knuckles and start mentally stretching my legs and prepare to Ninja kick her in the head!!

After I think 2 hours in the appointment she walks back out to get her prescription pad walked herself back into the room with her tennis shoes that have springs as heels (total fashion faux-pas), sat herself down and asked us if we had any questions before we parted. I said "Ummm ya, what is the plan?" She looked at me like I was an idiot. Well, we have been here for 2 hours and we knew nothing. She then told us she guessed she could do blood work on her, but that we shouldn't expect any different results than we had had before. Oh, and that she needed to be on Zantac for her Reflux. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, for the 19th time she doesn't have REFLUX!!!! What about the XRay? The UltraSound? The Breath Test? She said she would look into all those AGAIN, I doubt we will hear back from her.

So needless to say we are officially looking for a new GI. I can't live with this any more. Dylan shouldn't live in this pain.

But, here is my prediction. We go back to the Pediatrician on Tuesday. At that point Dylan will have gotten through this funk, like she normally does. She will have gained weight, we will have solid poops, and the pain will have subsided for a couple of days. The doctors will think they have magically fixed her and that nothing needs to be done. Then is 4 more week the same thing will happen, she will stop gaining weight, be in pain and it will take them ANOTHER 6 weeks to figure out what is going on. And by the time they try to run a test, she will be over that hump again. And for the rest of our lives I will be going crazy from doctors not knowing what is going on with her.

Can you tell I am exhausted and frustrated yet?